25 Startups make it to PIVOT East 2015 finals

After an intense evaluation process by a panel involving over 15 investors, PIVOT East is happy to announce the top 25 exceptional startups that will participate in PIVOT East 2015.

The finalists, 5 from each category were selected from the 50 semifinalists announced two weeks ago. The finalists from across the region will compete to win market recognition and investor interest during the pitching conference which will be held on 22nd July in Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenya is represented by 16 startups, Tanzania has six, while Uganda and Rwanda have one each.

The startups that have made it to the finals are;

Finance category

Hisa Play, BitFinance, Eko Biashara and Shield from Kenya and V-Money from Tanzania

Enterprise category

Djuaji Research Limited, Mobu Limited, SaniCMS, Tenderpreneur and Duma Works all from Kenya

Entertainment category

Makarao and Game 254 Studios from Kenya and Guumzo, Moview, and Soka from Tanzania

Snapp Builder and ENT-Mobile Labs from Kenya, SafeMotos from Rwanda, Nikweli and Africa Fashion from Tanzania

For each category a sixth best startup has been placed on a waiting list in case any finalists drop out. These are Kenyan startups Bangaiza App, Ekodi, Softballot, SpotMe and Skillence, as well as Yanguwa from Uganda.

Since 2011, PIVOT East has identified and supported 100 mobile startups as finalists, with the m:lab having funded 20 of these startups to the tune of US$200,000 thus far. This year, competitors will have to persuade investors to back them.

“This year, the finalists of the competition will receive training, coaching and mentorship in the weeks preceding the pitching conference and also after the pitching conference. These activities assist the finalists to improve key elements of their business models and the positioning of their startups to the rich audience at the conference. Startups in the waiting list and the other semifinalists who did not make it to the finalists will also benefit from the training, coaching and mentoring given to the finalists,” PIVOT East said.